22 JANUARY 1994, Page 22

The Outlaws

Sir: Simon Courtauld states (`Something nasty in the tea-leaves', 8 January) that gyp- sies 'may not always respect the laws of the land'. Where motoring law is concerned they, and New Age travellers, most definitely don't. None of their vehicles is insured — no insurer would accept their custom — and few have valid MOT certificates. The police, who so zealously enforce motoring law on the rest of us, simply ignore this abuse.

Anyone unlucky enough to be involved in an accident with a gypsy or New Age vehi- cle is unlikely to have any redress.

Jonathan Curtis

4 Tichenor's Close, Chineham, Basingstoke, Hants